The popularity of online dating is growing rapid with people looking after their soul mate in this virtual world. Nowadays, people spend very little time outside the professional pressure for themselves only. The stressed out people at the end of the day sit and search for friends from the comfort of the home, in the popular world of online dating.

Online dating is a new fad with just about everyone using online dating services. While's it's extremely popular, one must bear in mind a few pros and cons of online dating. Let's review some of the pros and the cons.

Online matchmaking sites and dating services don't screen members and just about anyone can join and utilize these services. So what that means is that you never really know who your talking, chatting with. With online dating naturally there is a certain element of distrust. Basically you can't be sure of anyone on the net. Is that pretty woman's picture really a woman or is that handsome cute guy really handsome or is he posing as someone else?

Scams such as prostitute scams, Nigerian scams, phone scams are widespread over the net and there are many more but essentially the same thing. People are looking to scam other people over the net by asking assistance for money etc.

Common phone scams are those where people ask you to call them and then you realize that you are being charged in more than hundred dollars for less than a minute phone call. These scams are extremely harmful and should not be paid attention. Prostitute scam is another thing for which you should be very careful avoid running after small invitation. Do not take any step serious before you have clear conception about the person on the other side.

Regular net surfers need to be careful of these online dating scams. Generally, people feel sorry and sympathetic after reading such stories and they try to help only to realize later that they have been fooled and cheated. So, be very careful and cautious when you start online dating. Leave no place unasked, and clear all your doubt before taking any serious decision. As said �Prevention is better than cure�, so one should read and gather all required information about theses scams and should not fall as prey to them.

On one hand online dating can be exciting and fun filled, whereas on the other hand there is always a certain amount of risk involved in it as because you actually do not know whom are you interacting with. You just need to be aware and alert so that you cannot be deceived by anyone and be a victim of these scams. An important thing to be kept in mind is that there are more cheaters and frauds on net rather than genuine people, so do not trust anyone blindly or you will have to pay for it later.